The Johannesburg Summit
What Nepal Can Learn

By Nirmala Sharma

THE Rio Earth Conference of 1992 was the first global effort to address the alarming situation that brought about environmental degradation. Though isolated efforts were being made earlier at individual levels, it was the first occasion in which almost all the leaders of the world assembled at Rio de Janeiro of Brazil with exclusive concern for the protection of environment of the Earth. As one of the participant countries, Nepal also expressed its commitment for some concrete steps towards sustainable development and the improvement in the degradation of environment in the country. However, no adequate steps seem to have been taken to translate these commitments into practice except for some publicity designed to raise environmental consciousness among the people.

Disparity

Sustainable development was one of the issues discussed at the Rio Conference. The conference had agreed that the life style of the rich and affluent countries characterized by over consumption, misuse of resources and the increase of population had compelled mankind to think of the Earth seriously. This also triggered a spirited discussion on sustainable development. At present, the disparity in the use of resources is inconceivable. The United States, which inhabits only 6 percent of the world population, uses 34 percent of the Earth's resources. The life styles of the Chinese and the Indian societies having the largest population in the world have also raised serious concern. In view of this situation the concept of sustainable development has been mooted in order to cultivate the culture of balanced use of resources in the country.

Sustainable development incorporates the concept of balancing social, economic and environmental situation in the world. The sustainable development also means equality and balance between this and the next generation.

In fact, the sustainable development means using the available resources without compromising with the needs of the coming generation. It does not mean living in perpetual poverty for the sake of the coming generation. It only indicates the simultaneous management of social economic development and the environmental protection. Its main concern is that the present use of resources should not adversely affect the future generation.

The Rio Conference of 1992 endorsed the Rio Declaration, Agenda-21 and other principles regarding forest conservation. They were brought forward as a plan of action for implementing sustainable development.

Now, another environmental conference has been held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Nepalese government officials are also taking part in this conference. Whether to go in for sustainable development or to stick to the present day economy are the two alternatives that the situation has presented to us. This very generation should make a choice of the two alternatives. Whatever course we may take will have a far-reaching repercussion. The future of Nepal and the Nepalese is also linked with the Johannesburg conference. It is the responsibility of the civil society to be adequately aware of this. In the last decade, some efforts were made to translate the theories of sustainable development into practice. The problem of globalization which had not been envisaged in the Rio conference and the decision-making processes linked to have made it difficult to put sustainable development into practice.Reviewing the achievements made by Nepal during the past ten years in the course of implementing the Agenda-21, we do not get an encouraging picture. Despite a lot of publicity on the conservation of environment, it has deteriorated further.

In Nepal, the number of vehicles has increased by 4 times. The level of air pollution in Katmandu and other urban centers has increased. The government has still not been able to implement anti-pollution standard effectively.

The development of clean energy was one of the commitments of the Rio conference. Nepal, however, has not been able to make a remarkable progress in that regard. Nepal is said to have the potential for generating 82,000 megawatts of electricity. But it has hardly generated 400 megawatts, which is less than one percent of the total capacity. Of late, the government has adopted the policy to grant subsidy to bio-gas, solar energy and small hydropower as alternative energy resources. They can be considered to be positive indications.

Similarly, the government has also made some progress in the area of forest conservation. The number of community forest has reached more than 10,000. These forests established on the basis indigenous resources and people's participation have contributed to conserve depleting forest resources. According to an estimate, the area of conserved forest has now reached 18.1 percent. This indicates the improving situation of resource management.

Nepal, however, has not been able to make a considerable achievement in the field of waste management. According to a statistics 426,500 tons of waste matter is produced in 58 municipalities of the country. It constitutes 83 per cent of the total waste production of the country. In Katmandu alone 29 percent of solid waste is produced. But its management has not been effective.
In the 1990s the government of Nepal put forward a goal of providing safe drinking water for all by 2000. But only 40 percent people have access to piped water. What is disturbing is that the investment in drinking water has also decreased.

Requirement

Peace is a main requirement for a successful implementation of development projects. The objective of the sustainable development has suffered a setback because of continuous Maoist terrorist activities. The Maoist insurgency that started in 1996 has engulfed the country seriously threatening the peace and stability of the country.

It is hoped that the Johannesburg Conference will help find a more suitable model of eco-friendly development, which can help solve the problems of development and environmental degradation in the developing countries like ours.

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